The VP Debate: "bunch of malarkey..."

1
What did you think about the VP Debate? Who won? What was your favorite moment?

As the candidates segued to domestic issues, Biden went after the Romney/Ryan ticket for being on the side of fat cats. "They continue to put the interest of millionaires and billionaires ... ahead of the military and middle class," Biden said.

In response--and attempting to defend Romney's controversial 47 percent remark--Ryan said (to laughter), "I think the vice president knows, sometimes the words don't always come out of your mouth the way you want."

"But I always say what I mean," Biden retorted with a grin.

The vice president did seem to say what he meant for much of the debate, even looking straight at the camera and addressing viewers directly.

I agree about Martha Raddatz, she was great. I thought Joe was on target and showed the passion that was lacking in Obama. I liked his steadfastness about Afghanistan. We will be out. No pussyfooting about if... That is one huge thing I take away from the debate: The president puts our troops out of harm's way as quickly as possible. Ryan failed to score any points about the draw down now as our troops are replaced. I think anyone who has children in the teen years would be glad to hear this.

I felt the Syria issues could have had more play time. That and Iran really need to be openly discussed. I think Joe showed his leadership when he was able to talk about the change in stories thata have taken place since the ambassador's and the other deaths. He is privy to many facts that he cannot discuss and he seemed able to share enough to show to those who wanted to hear what was known at the beginning and where things stand now.

Ryan was stupid to bring up the car crash. He also failed to make any points as to how the magic budget formula would work. He could not or would not list any cut in deductions for the middle class but did not say that all of the current ones would be protected. If they are not protected then in effect there is an increase in taxes for the middle class while the few with large incomes get away again. I was glad Joe brought up the fact that many of the "small businesses" that the GOP keeps including in "small business" are actually extremely small hedge funds, professional athletes, and others who are not in the norm. To include tham in small business is not a good characterization, but it works for GOP stats.

I loook forward to the next debate. I hope both candidates watched and learned from these two men. They both did an outstanding job. IMHO.

Joe did a poor job. He was rude, disrespectful and over all, looked like he thought he was at a carnival, not a debate of issues serious to millions of US citiziens. He looked, to me, like an angry old white guy. He was even rude to the commentator on several occasions. He interrupted Ryan 82 times! In a 90 minute time frame that is almost once a minute.

His comments (more than once) of "if they'd just get out of the way (referring to Republicans) hardly sounds like a we'll reach across the aisle sort of theme, does it?

And he has lying about the Syria thing....but then the Syria thing has been one lie after another since it happened, and he is hardly the first person or the highest in rank to have done it.

I'm not going to argue about who said what, or substance. To be honest, everything's about spin anyway on both sides. Shortly this thread will be joined by those left leaning posters who can run circles around me politically. Arguing numbers/percentages. Linking web sites....

On a purely nursing level, I found the behavior of the vice-president to be labile. Very labile. If I'd observed it in a 48 hr old pre-menopausal woman, or a 17 yr old boy, it might not put a beep on my radar.
But on the Vice-president of the US?
I told my husband, he was either off his meds, or he needed some meds.

I'm not so entrenched in my beliefs that I can't be fair. I felt during the whole thing that Biden won. I felt Ryan did well.
But then the win was uglied up by the uncontrollable mirth, in a situation that did not warrant that response.
I couldn't get past the number two guy in our country giggling like a girl.

Lefties are saying he couldn't control himself, because his opponent's rhetoric was so absurd.
A 40 yr politician couldn't control his demeanor???

I have a question. Last week when the president bombed his debate, I don't remember seeing a prominent thread concerning that issue.
Today, Joe V, administrator posts a thead. Joe Biden did well.
Is there a connection?

Just a thought - maybe we should tack this onto the General Election thread started by Tweety because we've all been discussing it there as well and I'm not sure I want to go back and forth between these two threads.

Just a thought - maybe we should tack this onto the General Election thread started by Tweety because we've all been discussing it there as well and I'm not sure I want to go back and forth between these two threads.

Whaddya think?

it's fine on it's own ... there's no need to place everything on one thread - new thread - new title - new focus

having separate threads can help readers focus on what's important to them

Having lived in PA all my life with Philadelphia stations covering Delaware policitcs + living nearby Claymont DE, demeanor showed by VP Biden was his usual self as seen over past 25+yrs he's been Senator. Wish all 79 yrs were looking as good and as intellectually sharp as him. With some more experience, can see Ryan becoming Presidential candidate.

My DH was having FITS that Biden wasn't allowed equal time to speak and felt Martha Raditz could have enforced 2min time limit better. Theories without details from Romney/Ryan camp concerns him and other"47% 's" most.
Malarkey goes over well in our Irish household.

And he has lying about the Syria thing....but then the Syria thing has been one lie after another since it happened, and he is hardly the first person or the highest in rank to have done it.

Correction: Biden was lying about the Libya thing and the assassination of the ambassador there. But he either lied or just didn't know any better about Syria too. Syria is NOT 5 times bigger than Libya, as the VP said at least one, and since he repeats himself when he speaks, probably at least twice. In fact, Libya is 9.5 times larger than Syria.

Having lived in PA all my life with Philadelphia stations covering Delaware policitcs + living nearby Claymont DE, demeanor showed by VP Biden was his usual self as seen over past 25+yrs he's been Senator. Wish all 79 yrs were looking as good and as intellectually sharp as him. With some more experience, can see Ryan becoming Presidential candidate.

My DH was having FITS that Biden wasn't allowed equal time to speak and felt Martha Raditz could have enforced 2min time limit better. Theories without details from Romney/Ryan camp concerns him and other"47% 's" most.
Malarkey goes over well in our Irish household.

In stories afterwards (more than just Fox by the way), it was shown that your husband had the wrong impression:

“Biden interrupted 82 times during the entire debate.” To those watching on television, that seemed like a low number.

Raddatz followed the Biden lead though – interrupting the debaters 50 times. She leaned heavily on Ryan, interrupting him 31 times, 12 more than the 19 times she cut off Biden. She also took a liberal tone on abortion and let Biden control the debate tone by never shutting up. He led Ryan on time by 1 minute 20 seconds, 41:32 to 40:12, but it was doubtful that the debate clock could track every Bidenism. CNN’s Anderson Cooper said Biden managed to “continually inject himself” into Ryan’s comments. Cooper, too, was living in the land of understatement........"

I have been reading some of the fact checking. Actually I really did not need to as Joe fact checked all of Ryan's lies and misdirections. I think that by it self was interesting. Joe will not allow the citizens of this country to be told lies without trying to convey the truth. While I read complaints of interruptions by Joe, these are the same complaints many had about Romney last week.

Have to agree with NRSKaren, Joe is always the same. He carries his coal cracker roots well. His son is smoother and still has the same values and probably would also say malarkey. I read complaints about his smiles and laughs. I did not care for Romeny's plastic sneer last week. Funny how things change in a week.

Telling to me was Joe's ability to be true to his Catholic faith and see that he does not have the right, as an elected person to impose this religion, religious tenents, or religious beliefs on anyone else. I wish Ryan had the same understanding of separation of church and state.